2015 Trees online

Wood for trees

Welcome to our simple website about UK trees. Here we look at the more popular trees in the UK and trace their history and origins. We start with the mighty Oak and the humble Beech ending with lesser known trees like the Hornbeam and the Alder. We have carefully researched all of the trees on this webiste and are available to answer any "tree" questions you may have by email questions@treesoniline.org.uk

The mighty Oak

Of all our forest trees the Oak is undoubtedly the king. It is our most important tree, the monarch of our woods, full of noble dignity and grandeur in the summer sunshine, strong to endure the buffeting of the wintry gales. It lives to the great age of seven hundred years or more, and is a true father of the forest. We read of the Oak tree in the story books of long ago. More on Oaks.

The Humble Beech

In the south of England there lived a holy hermit named St. Leonard whose but was surrounded by a glade of noble Beech trees. The saint loved the beautiful trees, but by day he could not sit under their shady branches because of the vipers which swarmed about the roots, and by night the songs of many nightingales disturbed his rest. More on Beeches.

And One Last Thing - the Birch

“Sweet bird of the meadow, soft be thy nest, Thy mother will wake thee at morn from thy rest: She has made a soft nest, little redbreast, for thee, of the leaves of the birch, and the moss of the tree. “ - Leyden.

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." MLK

Here we look at some of the lesser known trees in more detail.

The Alder tree

The Alder tree is a cousin of the Birch and the Hazel, and like them its flowers and seeds are borne in catkins. It is usually to be found growing by the side of a slow-running stream, over which its slender branches bend gracefully, while its spreading roots cling to the boggy soil at the water's edge. For the Alder does not thrive in dry ground: it is a water-loving tree, and its many tiny roots attract moisture, and suck it up greedily; so that the ground where the Alder grows is often a marshy swamp.

The humble Hornbeam

This is a tree that many people tell you they have never noticed; even people who know the names of most of our forest trees look surprised if you ask them which the Hornbeam is; they have never heard of it. And yet let grows freely in England in the woods and hedgerows, and like the Beech it is invaluable for sheltering with its close bushy branches younger trees that are struggling to live.